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The Charlotte Hornets have stumbled through the early part of the regular season, and their struggles are reflected in the latest Eastern Conference power rankings. Charles Lee's squad has limped through the first ten games, but they are not alone in their misery. While that may not ease concerns about the team's immediate future, it does suggest that hope is not entirely lost, especially with other teams faring just as poorly.
In the third edition of the season's power rankings, we assess which teams are thriving and which are in desperate need of a turnaround. As always, these rankings serve as a short- to medium-term temperature check and do not necessarily align with the official standings. All statistics, unless otherwise noted, are from the past week of play.
Milwaukee Bucks (15th)
The Bucks' season is teetering on the edge of irrelevance. Expectations were modest for a Giannis-less Milwaukee squad, but the on-court product has been far from competitive. A core of Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware, Ryan Rollins, Myles Turner, and Kyle Kuzma doesn't exactly scream Finals contender, but it should be enough to outperform the Brooklyn Nets or Chicago Bulls, or at least the injury-plagued teams in the East. Apparently not. To be fair, all of Milwaukee's losses this week came against relatively strong opponents, providing a sliver of a silver lining.
Chicago Bulls (14th)
The Bulls had a week similar to the Bucks, the only difference being one fewer loss because they played one fewer game. However, there is significant good news: offseason acquisition Nic Claxton made his season debut after dealing with a hamstring strain. Claxton won't single-handedly turn Chicago into a playoff team, but he should bolster a defense that has struggled mightily. Like Milwaukee, Chicago faces a tough schedule this week, but with Claxton back, they might at least keep games competitive.
Charlotte Hornets (13th)
These rankings do consider the season as a whole to some extent, which is the only reason Charlotte isn't dead last. Based solely on the past week, the Hornets would have earned that dubious honor. Injuries are plaguing the team, and the healthy players are dealing with inefficiency and shooting slumps. Still, that doesn't excuse some of the offensive dry spells. Charlotte ranks last or second-to-last in points per game, field goal percentage, three-point percentage, free throw attempts per game, assists per game, and turnovers per game. For context, the last NBA team to finish a regular season with a double-digit offensive rating was the 2015/16 Philadelphia 76ers (98.4), whose top shot takers were Ish Smith, Jahlil Okafor, and Robert Covington.
Brooklyn Nets (12th)
The Nets continue to find themselves in close games, alternating between blowout losses and entertaining contests. Their victory over the Hornets and narrow loss to the Hawks exemplify this trend. Players like Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., Mikel Brown Jr., Nolan Traor, and Danny Wolf have had productive nights, but inconsistency and inexperience lead to wildly varying performances.
Orlando Magic (11th)
Orlando dropped all three games last week, but they are missing nearly half their rotation. Without Paolo Banchero, Jalen Suggs, Jonathan Isaac, and Noah Penda, players like Franz Wagner, Wendell Carter Jr., Anthony Black, and Tristan da Silva have had to shoulder a heavy load. That context makes their close losses, including an overtime defeat to the red-hot Warriors, more understandable. Moral victories don't count in the standings, but they can build confidence, and once Banchero and Suggs return, the Magic should start winning some of these tight games. The schedule also eases up, and if Orlando fails to win at least one of its next three, the narrative will shift.
Miami Heat (10th)
Miami is winning the games it should and losing the rest, a pattern that has held all season. Against Western Conference powerhouses like the Lakers and Warriors, the Heat were blown out and had no defensive answers. Against the Clippers and Kings, two of the NBA's worst teams, they secured two uninspiring wins, one in overtime. That's why they haven't earned a higher spot despite a better record than some teams below them. A test against a quality opponent this week will reveal more.
Washington Wizards (9th)
The Wizards excelled at drawing fouls early in the season, but that has changed recently, partly because Anthony Davis missed two games. Overall, Washington lacks consistency on both ends, with fluctuating free-throw attempts and three-point shooting, and a defense that is often absent. When a few things click, they can be a tough opponent, but they also have nights where they look like a lottery team.
Indiana Pacers (8th)
Indiana jumped from 15th to 8th despite winning just one game last week, thanks to context. The Pacers were decimated by injuries and had lost four straight, but they nearly won with a six-man rotation against Atlanta, then beat the Grizzlies and challenged the Nuggets with a healthier roster. As long as Tyrese Haliburton remains injured, wins will be hard to come by, but the team is in a much better place than a week ago.
Toronto Raptors (7th)
Toronto is in a strange position. They've won the games they should, and their offense is still potent, but they can't stop anyone defensively. They are strong on the offensive glass but terrible on the defensive boards. Kawhi Leonard hasn't played since week one, and the center situation is concerning, with neither Jakob Poeltl, Trayce Jackson-Davis, nor Nate Bittle impressing. That forces Scottie Barnes, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Allen Graves to play center, sacrificing size and physicality on the wing. A trade for a big man seems likely.
Cleveland Cavaliers (6th)
Cleveland had a tough week record-wise but stayed competitive against a difficult schedule. Donovan Mitchell found some rhythm on higher volume, while James Harden remained inconsistent. Jarrett Allen, Sam Merrill, and Jaylon Tyson all missed time. Winning just one of four games is disappointing, but there were few signs of impending doom.
Atlanta Hawks (5th)
Four wins are four wins, even if the opponents look like next year's draft lottery. With Jalen Johnson missing three games, Atlanta's offensive dominance was impressive. They averaged a staggering number of field goal attempts per game, partly due to their league-leading pace, but they were also 14th in opponent field goals per game, so they weren't just running for the sake of it. The jury is still out on their ability to consistently create quality rim attempts, but their three-point shooting and defensive activity are enough to beat teams like Washington.
New York Knicks (4th)
Mike Brown still has some things to figure out, but the results are coming. Jalen Brunson had a great offensive week, Karl-Anthony Towns recorded three double-doubles, and the Knicks finished with the second-best net rating, defensive rating, and offensive rating. On the negative side, Mikal Bridges hasn't found his stride, averaging career lows across the board. If New York wants to repeat as champions or secure home-court advantage, they need more from Bridges or may need to explore a trade.
Boston Celtics (3rd)
Boston's schedule might look Miami-esque, but the key difference is that the Celtics dominate bad teams. It's mostly the same recipe as last season, with some upgraded personnel. The loss to Houston was ugly, but they were without Paul George against a fantastic opponent. When George or Tatum sits, Boston may lack the scoring depth to beat the best, but when healthy, they're as good as anyone in the East.
Philadelphia 76ers (2nd)
How long can the 76ers keep this up? They're running their starters into the ground, their thin frontcourt keeps getting injured, and their wins are mostly unconvincing. The scoring ability of Brown, Maxey, James, Embiid, and Anfernee Simons is undeniable, and Philadelphia will keep winning in the short term, which is why they're second. But the line Nick Nurse and his staff are walking is razor-thin. It feels inevitable that the 76ers will either suffer a significant injury or arrive at the end of the regular season exhausted.
Detroit Pistons (1st)
Despite two losses, Detroit remains atop the rankings for the third consecutive week. The Pistons are doing everything without All-Star big man Jalen Duren, they continue to beat up on lesser teams like the Hornets, and their losses came against in-form opponents. Against the Lakers, Luka Doncic sat out, but Austin Reaves exploded for 41 points, while Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson had poor shooting nights. Even so, it was a close game. If losses start piling up, things will change, but no team goes through the regular season without taking some lumps, especially while missing a key player against top-tier teams.